From courtship to cross country, a footpath from Castle Howard Road to Broughton Road in Malton, known as ‘The Plantation’, has taken on many roles over the years. Howard Campion, trustee at the Malton and Norton Heritage Centre, reports.
The Plantation is a tree-lined footpath of almost a mile's length leading from Castle Howard Road to Broughton Road, shown as a narrow line.
It follows a prominent ridge known as Maiden Greve Balk.
This earthwork could be a parish boundary marker, and it has been suggested that it has had a defensive role in the past.
The route continues over Broughton Road, culminating in an ancient 'hospital' that was mentioned here in the recent article regarding the Cross Keys.
Unlike the other hospital' in Norton, this one (St.Mary Magdalene) does not have any civic building or road named after it.
However, an adjacent field to the north does have the name 'Chapel Garth'.
It should be noted that the remains are no longer mentioned on modern Ordnance Survey maps.
Photos show the area as viewed from Broughton Road as well as from above.
It is unlikely that any tunnels exist hereabouts because the construction of the A64 by-pass nearby in the mid-1970s would have cut through and exposed these.
The building's remains are evidenced by the local plant species, Green Hellebore, as well as Soapwort.
Read more from Howard:
- A look back at a well-known Malton pub - and the tunnels beneath it
- Looking back at Malton’s Railway Street
- Norton was once home to three manor houses – but what happened to them?
- A look back at Malton's railway station
- A look back at Broughton Rise
- A defensive town wall once surrounded Malton, but what happened to it?
- Looking back at the history of York Road
The plantation is known for being a quiet, traffic free rural escape.
Local schools used it as a convenient 'cross country' run and pupils could be sent unsupervised to complete a circuit during a P.E. lesson.
However, an alternative route round was soon established by some students…
The secluded walk was apparently also ideal for courtship, but the 1920s postcard shown gives a quite exaggerated view of this aspect!
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